Graham Brazier, Island Tides, February 9, 2012

The citizens of Campbell River, ‘Salmon Capital of the World,’ have lived with an active coalmine in their backyard for twenty-five years. On January 25, Minister of Energy and Mines Rich Coleman made an announcement to grant Quinsam Coal Corporation a permit to extend its operations 3.5 kilometres from the present site. Though it’s too late now, it might have been useful to review the operations of Quinsam Coal Corporation (QCC) and evaluate its performance before deciding.

Looking At ‘Quinsam’

In the words of the press release, the expansion ‘will continue to provide more than 500 direct and indirect jobs in the Campbell River area.’ This promise begs to be seen in an historical context.

Let’s go back to the late 1970s when QCC first proposed to mine coal in the Quinsam River watershed. Instantly, residents of Campbell River along with representatives of both commercial and sports fishing and numerous environmental groups were flabbergasted—as were their political leaders. The mere thought of risking damage to the renewable resources that formed the heart of the local economy was incomprehensible.

In those days, mayor and council of Campbell River, the Regional District of Comox-Strathcona, and local NDP-MLA Colin Gabelmann were all opposed to the project. Gabelmann spoke for many residents when he said flatly the proposal was unacceptable. A public inquiry held in 1983 heard technical evidence which, in the eyes of many, seemed to reinforce doubts that the project could be carried out without significant risks to Campbell River’s most cherished asset—the spawning grounds.

Those Jobs—Again

The company’s case seemed weak. But in the end, QCC’s unequivocal declaration that: ‘A total of 246 direct jobs will be created on a permanent basis’ seemed to turn the tide. The Commission’s report to the Minister recommended that the project could be ‘constructed and operated with appropriate mitigative measures so that impacts on the environment would be minimal.’ In the end, ‘job creation’ trumped guarantees of water quality in the streams and lakes responsible for Campbell River’s identity—commitment to mitigative measures, it appears, was sufficient.

Then, early in 1984, Tony Brummet, Minister of Environment in the Social Credit government of the day, issued the permit and opened the door. QCC, with a commitment to abide by a package of mitigative measures under one arm and a pledge to create 246 direct jobs under the other, strode in and set up on the banks of the Quinsam River. It took another three years before coal was actually extracted. So it was 1987, against the wishes of local politicians, when Campbell River became a mining town.

As years passed, there were environmental and job creation issues. The Campbell River Environmental Committee has fully documented the company’s responses to allegations of violations of water standards downstream from the mine. Throughout the 1980s, the number of jobs at the mine never exceeded 50. Even during the boom years of the 1990s, the numbers employed at the mine failed to reach 246 and varied from 75 in 1990 to 230 in the peak year of 1998.

Since then, employment plummeted to fewer than 50 as QCC limped into the 21st century under court-ordered bankruptcy protection. Following a second financial restructuring, employment levels remained sluggish, and it was 2006 before they exceeded 100 again. In 2007, QCC operated at a loss and had a third financial restructuring in 2009. It’s very hard to conclude that permanent jobs, other than those at the very top, have been a feature of this corporation’s presence in Campbell River since 1987. Presently QCCemploys ‘about 140’ and the expansion permit was granted based on this number.

So, it seems the commitment to 246 permanent jobs served its purpose in 1983—it opened a door. And, almost 30 years after QCC walked through that door, it has gained enormous influence in the region. Once opposed by virtually all locally-elected officials, it is now ‘too big to fail’ and is supported by local politicians including the mayor and the local NDP MLA, Claire Trevena, who says: ‘I know that Quinsam is working extremely hard at trying to make sure that it does meet all the [environmental] standards.’ It seems that Campbell River will continue to be a mining town.

© Island Tides Publishing Ltd.This article may be reproduced with the following attribution, in its entirety, and notification to Island Tides Publishing Ltd.

‘This article was published (February 9, 2012) in ‘Island Tides’, an independent, regional newspaper distributing across the Southern Strait of Georgia from Tsawwassen to Victoria to Nanaimo.’

Island Tides Publishing Ltd, Box 55, Pender Island, BC V0N 2M0 • 250-629-3660 • islandtides@islandtides.com • www.islandtides.com

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